Category: Virginia Estates’ Blog

The year 2021 continued to be a challenging year full of anxiety, change and hope. Heading into 2022, we are looking to return to a feeling of balance, peace and renewal. We have done a lot of soul searching over the past couple of years and are deciding day by day what things we truly miss from pre-Covid days and what changes we have made that we wish to keep. The color of the year chosen by popular paint brands reflect this inward searching of our soul and our desire to return to a peacefully balanced life with renewed energy and a positive outlook. Below I will reveal 5 major paint companies color of the year and discuss how these beautiful hues make sense in this new world.  Continue reading “Paint Color of the Year – 2022 “

As the weather cools, we are spending more time inside and you may find yourself craving a bit of nature. One wonderful way to spend time with nature when you can’t get outside is to decorate your luxury home with plants. House plants can help us connect with the outside world when we are stuck inside working or due to bad weather. Studies show that indoor plants aren’t just pretty to look at, they help create a calm environment, boost concentration, improve your mood and increase productivity. House plants also do a great job of clearing the air…of toxins that is…and can keep you from catching sore throats and colds as well as reduce feelings of stress and fatigue. Below are some of our favorite plants that will add a little bit of nature to your luxury home. 

The Snake Plant and the Peace Lily

For those who lack a green thumb, these lovely simple plants are perfect. They are easy to care for, preferring medium to low light and infrequent waterings. They have the added benefit of being able to remove the harmful toxins carbon monoxide and formaldehyde from the air. Place a small snake plant in your bedroom when you are ready to go to sleep. The plant releases oxygen into the air at night and may help you breathe a little easier. 

ZZ Plant 

If you are the forgetful or extremely busy type, then the ZZ Plant is the plant for you. These plants can withstand neglect, are extremely drought tolerant and don’t need a lot of light. These easy to care for plants work as air purifiers by removing the toxins xylene, toluene and benzene from the air. The meaning of this lovely plant is prosperity and friendship making it the perfect gift for a friend moving into a new home. 

 

Add some drama to your luxury home by introducing a small tree into your living space. 

The Fiddle Leaf Fig

This uber trendy plant is showing up in design magazines and on chic instagram accounts everywhere. The Fiddle Leaf Fig has wide textured leaves and dense foliage. This plant is a bit of a diva so if you want this wonderful plant to thrive in your home you will need to be very attentive. The Fiddle Leaf Fig does not like too much sun or not enough sun or soil that is too wet or too dry or dry air. This plant definitely requires a lot of love and attention so think long and hard before you purchase. However if you do decide to add this lovely plant to your home, the Fiddle Leaf Fig will reward you with a lush and leafy tree.

The Audrey Ficus 

The Audrey Ficus is the national tree of India and is believed to be the tree under which Buddha sat when he received enlightenment. It is a lovely simple tree with vibrant green leaves and an off white trunk which makes it the perfect plant to add a little something to your minimalist decor. The plant prefers high levels of bright indirect or direct sunlight. It will not tolerate low light conditions. You want to allow the very top layer of soil to dry out but the Audrey Ficus does need to be watered regularly. 

The Ficus Alii

The Ficus Alii is more commonly known as the banana leaf due to the long, slender shape of its leaves. This species is native to southeastern Asia, India and China and is the less fussy cousin of the Fiddle Leaf Fig. Although this plant is easier to care for, it is no less stunning. Provide this plant with indirect sunlight and even waterings to keep it happy and thriving.  

 

Designer Plants add a little fun to your decor  with delightfully original plants with built in design elements. 

The Polka Dot Begonia

This charming if somewhat showy plant has leaves of a deep olive color with bright white polka dots and burgundy undersides. The plant prefers the same temperatures as it’s human caregiver, thriving in temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees. Once this well dressed plant has settled into your luxury home, it is relatively simple to care for and provides a lot of drama and natural decor elements. 

The Triostar Stromanthe 

This plant is a little bit of a bohemian with an explosion of colors from it’s green, cream and pink leaves. This fun plant grows best in warm humid conditions and will thrive in dappled light. Make sure to turn your plant regularly for even growth and mist with water frequently to mimic the humidity of its natural environment. 

The Ficus Triangularis 

This gorgeous plant is native to South Africa. It has triangle shaped leaves that are bright green with white/cream colored borders. This ficus loves to stay cozy and will appreciate a good amount of bright sunlight and protection from cold drafts. Mist and wipe down your ficus weekly to keep this beauty looking its best. 

When you don’t have a lot of space – go small. 

If you cannot find space around your home for houseplants, then consider small bits of greenery that you can grow in your kitchen. Small plants such as salad greens, mini vegetables and fragrant herbs such as rosemary, basil and mint will add a wonderful splash of natural green while providing wellness benefits for both your body and soul. 

Bringing a bit of nature inside will help to make your home feel luxurious and alive. These wonderful plants will add beauty and interest to your space while providing health and wellness benefits. Which plants will you bring home today? 

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Nov. 2, 2021

Charlottesville VA– Virginia Estates Inc., an international real estate company, today is announcing attractive new pricing for the highly acclaimed Williamsburg Winery.

About Williamsburg Winery

Established in 1985, and never before offered for sale, The Williamsburg Winery Ltd. (TWW) represents an exceptional opportunity to acquire an iconic, profitable, internationally acclaimed winery/hospitality business with strong brand recognition. Strategically located only minutes from historic Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, at a newly reduced price of just $29M (Including over $12m in Wine Inventory), it represents a tremendous value in a strong vibrant market area. TWW is within a 3 hour drive of 10 million people, and within a 1 day drive of 30 million. It is only 10 minutes from Colonial Williamsburg, which attracts 6 to 8 million visitors annually.

On the East Coast, a winery operation of this size is rare, and even more rare is when one becomes available for sale. The business operations include- vineyard-winery, lodging, and special events integrated hospitality business in a well-known “destination location.” It comprises approximately 416-acres with 52-acres under vine and can produce up to 60,000 cases of fine wine annually. The facilities include a large winery complex, with multiple tasting rooms, and indoor special events venues including the Gabriel Archer Tavern, a casual gourmet restaurant, as well as Wedmore Place, a luxury boutique hotel, which is a 28-suite hotel furnished impeccably with many fine antiques and artwork. Over 100,000 visitors annually come to “wine, dine, and stay” at the Williamsburg Winery where they can enjoy tours, tastings, retail shopping, informal and fine dining options, overnight accommodations, as well as extensive facilities for hosting special events with a focus on upscale weddings.

More about this unique offering is available at- http://virginiavineyardsforsale.com/

About Virginia Estates

Virginia Estates Inc. is an international real estate firm located near Charlottesville, VA which specializes in brokering vineyards & wineries as well as large farms and estates. Virginia Estates is committed to being the premier real estate company in the Mid-Atlantic region for buyers and sellers seeking to achieve their real estate goals. Over the years, Virginia Estates has successfully represented hundreds of millions of dollars of transactions public and private, international and domestic, including over 50 vineyard-winery sales.

Virginia Estates has an expansive international referral network that allows them to help facilitate the needs of their clients no matter where in the world they or the property is located. The company’s flagship website is www.virginiaestates.com as well as an extensive array of niche websites that allow Virginia Estates to dominate search results in all the property categories outlined above.

Rick Walden
Virginia Estate’s CEO
434-981-5923
rick@virginiaestates.com

P. Tyler Williams
Senior Vice President & REALTOR™
703-850-4914
ptylerwilliams@gmail.com

What would you do with the large parcel of land you desire to purchase, that’s just too good of a deal to pass up? There are several of those properties right here in Virginia! Acres of prime forestland, first rate farms, and open spaces with unlimited options are all available in Central Virginia, the foothills of the Piedmont, and in or around the Blue Ridge Mountains. If you’re looking for a secluded location with easy access to cities such as Charlottesville, Culpeper, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, or even a commute to Richmond, Roanoke, or Washington, D.C., you’ll find something that catches your eye. Large tracts of land are great for personal use and business and investment opportunities. Any single one, or possibly several of the following examples may be the exact venture you’re interested in.

Do you want to reserve your land for yourself, family and friends, or are you open to having partners and customers coming and going? Are you an animal lover, have a green thumb, a homebody, an outdoors enthusiast, or a people person? These are two of the first questions you should ask yourself before beginning your research into prospects that will suit your desires or needs. For introverts and extroverts alike, there’s plenty of options.

If you’re looking for a farm and pastureland with soft rolling hills interspersed with open fields and wooded stands, Albemarle, Amherst, Augusta, Buckingham, Culpeper, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, and Orange counties are all great places to start your search. If a working farm already exists and you wish to continue its operation, that makes for a cost-effective purchase since the footprint is already established and some, if not all, of the necessary infrastructure is most likely in place. If you’re not interested in operating the farm yourself, leasing the land to other farmers for growing crops or pasturing livestock can sometimes be very lucrative. Due to Central Virginia’s climate and soil, corn, hay, soybeans, and wheat are grown extensively. Greenhouses and nurseries are also on the rise in the state, comprising almost 10% of Virginia’s total agriculture. CSA farms, or Community Supported Agriculture, are rapidly expanding. People enjoy knowing exactly where their produce is coming from, how it’s being grown, and having the ability to drive directly to the source and even pick their own portion of their share.

Independent commercial farms geared toward seasonal family activities can be very successful. Pick your own strawberries in the spring, sunflowers in the summer, and pumpkins in the fall will draw in a steady stream revenue for over half of the year. Additional services and events such as hay rides, fairs, food and music festivals, living nativity scenes around Christmas, and tractor pulls are other popular experiences that will bring people of all age groups near and far. Music festivals in remote settings can often attract crowds larger than what a traditional music venue could hold. The annual weekend-long Blue Ridge Music Festival near Lynchburg, Virginia is a prime example.

Depending on the size of the property, available finances, and knowledge of the matter, you may want to consider building a craft brewery, cidery, distillery, or vineyard and winery. In Central Virginia and in the Blue Ridge portions of the state, all of these ventures have exploded in the past decade or so. There are multiple beer and wine trails, transportation services that cater exclusively to carrying small and large groups to these destinations, and county tourism departments have lured in vacationers with the sole purpose of sampling what the establishments have to offer. Nelson 151 is one of the more well known and most frequented areas. On the weekends and holidays, live music and food trucks bring even more people. Farm to table and local food and ingredient sourcing is also big business, and if you’re entrepreneurial enough, you could plant and harvest your own apples, barely corn, grapes, rye, or wheat for whatever beverage or spirit you’re making. However, while Virginia is within the lower limits of the hop growing zone, very little are grown in the state.

Speaking of vacations, have you ever taken one to a farm? Believe it or not, that’s a real thing. City dwellers who loathe the clean air, open land, views, and simple ability to get dirt on their hands and interact with animals will pay to “work” on the farm. In a bed and breakfast type setting, guests come to the farm for up to a week and learn how to tend to the land and the animals. Adult couples and families alike, especially those with young kids, thoroughly enjoy a hands-on understanding and working knowledge of how raw food originates. Feeding the animals, horseback rides, and tractor rides are always the highlights.

Big barn venues are popular for large weddings and even corporate parties. Other than a relaxing, let your guard down atmosphere, it’s a perfect setting for photography where seasonal crops, fruits, vegetables can be rotated for props. Rolling fields of golden wheat blowing in the wind, tall green corn stretching into bright blue sky, or fields of blooming wildflowers offer a wide array of backgrounds that photographers and their subjects subconsciously gravitate towards. Don’t forget to polish the tractor- a country themed wedding isn’t proper without the proverbial bride sitting atop the tractor picture.

Are you an animal lover? Do you ever dream you could take in or rehabilitate abandoned creatures big and small, domestic and wild? Your wish could come true if you turn your farm or property into an animal rescue sanctuary. The satisfaction that comes from adopting an emotionally or physically harmed animal, holding on to it for safekeeping for the entirety of its life, or rescuing it to rehabilitate and release, is truly heartwarming and unparalleled.

Maybe you’re not quite the farm type, but more of a mountain man, or woman. There is an almost unending list of possibilities to turn a mountain property or tract into a business opportunity, an exciting recreation area, or a quiet, private, isolated reprieve from the rest of the world. If you’re looking to do all three, that’s manageable as well.

If you’re not ready to build on your vacant property, one revenue option that’s often overlooked is the timber on the land. In some cases, the value of the timber can even exceed the purchase cost of the property. You heard that correctly. You can cover all of your associated costs and have money left over. Even if you’re looking to build or develop, it’s almost always worthwhile to see what your timber is worth. Why pay someone to clear your land when you can be paid to have it cleared?

Another way to earn revenue on your property, depending on its location and regulations governing it, is to lease the land to hunters and fisherman. If wild game is abundant or you have water frontage such as a lake or a healthy trout stream or river, people will pay top dollar for a private hunting and fishing reserve. You will have the ability to extensively dictate the terms of the contract. If you’re willing to allow overnight camping or the building of a rudimentary cabin and unlimited access for the paying party, the higher the value will be to those looking.

Business opportunities include camping or church retreats, building a gun club and outdoor range or an obstacle and ropes course, or maybe vacation cabins. Rustic, fancy treehouses the size of full bedrooms are increasingly becoming popular for couples getaways. Some are even outfitted with electricity. Have you heard of glamping- camping with a little less roughing it and more glamour? Treehouses or yurts fit the bill. Gun clubs and ranges, on the other hand, do not need to be fancy. Basic amenities such as four walls, a roof, electricity and running water, and handgun, rifle, and shotgun lanes can bring in membership fees exceeding $500/year per person. Without too much up front cost, you can clear areas and build bathroom facilities and platforms for stationary tents for groups to rent for company team building exercises, or you could go the opposite direction by keeping it primitive for use by outdoor or survival enthusiasts. With proper equipment, ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) trails aren’t difficult to build or maintain. Mudding is also considered a proper sport for many off-road truck and Jeep enthusiasts. How about a paintball course? Wooded land with varying terrain is a dream for hardcore participants.

Some of my most vivid memories as a child took place on Mooremont Mountain in Orange County. Mooremont was an orchard owned by Mr. Moore, who my grandpa went to school with. The paved road turned to gravel as you neared the top, where in the shade of several tall oak trees there was a jungle gym, seesaw, swing set, and merry-go-round I nearly fell off dozens of times, too dizzy to hang on any longer. On a clear day, with a pair of binoculars you could see the Washington Monument.

The large wooden structure below the playground housed the store and offices where you could purchase pre-picked fruit by the bag and bushel, or drive down the dirt and grass trails to pick your own. It was more reminiscent of an old lumber mill you would have seen in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. The dusty floorboards always creaked and Mr. Moore could always be found sitting somewhere on the porch with dark brown pipe hanging off his bottom lip. My grandpa was a retired plumber by trade and performed a fair amount of plumbing jobs at the orchard, and in return Mr. Moore gave my grandpa free reign to pick whatever he wanted. As a nimble kid who enjoyed climbing trees, I was always brought along. We loaded bags with apples, cherries, peaches, pears, and plums which were baked into breads, cobblers, and pies. My favorite was my grandma’s fried apples over fresh biscuits. After I became an adult, Mooremont was purchased and the buyers tore out the orchard and turned the mountainside into a pasture for raising cattle. I was crushed as it held so many memories and I knew the years of dedicated work it took to bring an orchard into a profitable business. Maybe you have that kind of dedication.

Are you a hiker? Do you enjoy conversing, interacting, and helping others? If so, operating a hostel might be right up your alley. The Appalachian Trail runs for roughly 400 miles through the mountains and valleys of Virginia, more than any other state as it meanders it’s way from Georgia to Maine. Hostels provide basic, but needed services for thru and section hikers alike. Most hostels contain a large room or multiple smaller rooms with bunk beds, shower facilities, a small kitchen to cook meals, and an area to relax and recoup energy to continue their journey.

If you enjoy wildlife, why not turn your land into a nature preserve and/or apply for a conservation easement? If you’re willing to allow public access to your land, there are volunteer organizations that will help you map out, build, and clear trails for others to enjoy nature as well.

Finally, maybe you’re just after a remote mountain retirement or recreation location for your family and close friends. If that’s the case, a nostalgic quintessential cabin will make you feel right at home in the woods. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but certainly can be if you don’t want to rough it at all. Picture this: A small cabin tucked into the woods with a few bedrooms, bathroom, common area, kitchen, and wraparound porch beside a river where you could sit in a rocking chair or swing and listen to the gentle water falling over the rocks. A hammock is tied between two trees where you could lay and read and there are benches fashioned in a circle around an open fire pit. Perhaps it’s summer and you’ve got fresh bass and bluegill you caught earlier in the day on a griddle over the flames. Or maybe it’s fall and you wrapped a rack of deer ribs in foil with nothing but a can of beer poured over it and a little salt and pepper. If that doesn’t sound like a slice of solace, I don’t know what does.

Wow! This list shouldn’t be considered comprehensive, but it’s a great jumping point to get you interested and motivated if you’re considering buying a large tract of land or property and are looking for ideas of what to do with your purchase. Farms are good and mountains are great (better in my opinion, but I’m biased), so investigate what’s you’re interested in and make a move, because what-ifs will always leave you wondering what could have been!

Many people have chosen to leave the crowds of the city for a simpler, more spacious and less stressful life. If you are one of the many looking to purchase a new home or property, you may not have to step outside of your front door. Choosing not to house hunt in the traditional manner, many new home buyers are going digital and often complete the entire home buying process, from checking out the neighborhood to closing the deal, on-line. If you choose to purchase your next home on-line, here are some things that you should keep in mind.

 

Pick the right Real Estate Agent, Lender and Attorney.

• Do your research to ensure the people you choose to be a part of your home buying team has great reviews.
• Find a lender who is known for a great on-line experience and don’t be afraid to check out non traditional paperless mortgage lenders.
• Ask questions to ensure that every member of your team has experience with online buying.
• Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions about what to expect during the online home buying process.

Research the neighborhoods that you are interested in.

• Look at city websites such as charlottesville.org which will have information about the city, transportation, education, attractions, shopping and what it’s actually like to live in that city.
• Use Google Street View and take a virtual walk around the neighborhood to get an idea of the surrounding area. Don’t forget to check the date of the street view as some are a few years old. Use the desktop version of google street view you can go back in time to see how the community and property has changed and any improvements that have been made in the area.
• Look at the cities’ crime map to see how the neighborhoods you are interested in compare to other neighborhoods in the area.
• Get your Real Estate Agent’s perspective on the neighborhoods in the city of your choice. Ask them for the areas that they would look into if they were you.
• Check Google Map at different times of day to get a feel for traffic patterns and its effect on your daily commute.

Use all the digital tools at your disposal to explore the potential house of your dreams.

• Look at real estate websites such as Virginia Estates to look at photos of homes in your chosen neighborhood.
• Go to multiple real estate websites and look at any photos, virtual tours or 360 views of homes that interest you.
• Look at the city’s website to find information related to property taxes, GIS parcel maps, and crime statistics.
• Ask your Real Estate Agent to do a walk through virtual tour using video call or zoom.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for a second virtual walk through if you want a second look.

You may even be able to close remotely.

• Your closing agent will send all necessary documents. Take your time to look over all documents and review to ensure that there are no errors.
• Make certain the closing lender resolves any issues that you do find ASAP to keep your closing on schedule.
• Have a discussion with your lender to find out the requirements for signing and notarizing your closing documents. Some states and lenders allow you to close 100%
  electronically however most still require you to get documents notarized in person.
• Find out your bank’s process for wire transfers, ensure that you have the settlement company’s instructions on how to transfer funds including correct account number.
• Finally, if you receive wire transfer instructions via email, contact the settlement company directly and confirm it is from them in order to avoid the risk of wire transfer fraud.

The home buying process can at times feel overwhelming but with the right team on your side you will have all the support that you need. Buying a home virtually can save you time allowing you the opportunity to really research the areas and homes that you are interested in while still being able to enjoy your day to day life. With continual advances in technology, buying a home online will soon become the new normal.